Slow and Steady Wins the Race!
Step 1: Listen
You're going to hear a genuine BBC news report. Before you listen, read these three summaries. Now listen and decide which one is correct. Listen again if you need to.
a) Scientists have found women who take paracetamol during pregnancy tend to give birth to boys.
b) Scientists have discovered mice implanted with paracetamol are unable to reproduce.
c) Scientists have warned that boys born by women who took paracetamol during pregnancy may have problems reproducing later in their life.
Step 2: Learn the key words and listen again
How was that? Try listening again. Here are four definitions of key vocabulary which may help you.
the effects of
the result of doing something
reproductive health
ability to create babies successfully
implanted
had something put into it
mimic
copy the conditions or characteristics of
Step 3: Transcript and answer
Still not sure? This time you can read the transcript. The answer's underneath.
Scientists in Britain say the study of the effects of paracetamol in mice suggest that women who use the painkiller extensively during pregnancy might damage the reproductive health of their unborn sons.
The scientists used mice implanted with human foetal tissue to mimic pregnancy.
Those given paracetamol for seven days had much lower levels of testosterone.
Answer
The correct answer is:
c) Scientists have warned that boys born by women who took paracetamol during pregnancy may have problems reproducing later in their life.
This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio